Updates on 12 May 2026
All of May 2026 →Supreme Court Rules Casteist Remarks Inside Private Home Without Public View Not Offence Under SC/ST Act
On 11 May 2026, the Supreme Court of India clarified that caste-based abuses made inside private residences, where no members of the public are present to witness the event, do not constitute an offence under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The Court examined Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Act, which require the act to occur 'within public view' for the law to apply. This verdict arose from a property dispute case in Delhi and reinforces that private insults without public presence fall outside the Act's scope, emphasizing the necessity of public visibility for offences under these provisions.
India Rejects Russian LNG Cargo Subject to US Sanctions
In April 2026, India declined to accept liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from Russia’s Portovaya LNG plant, which are subject to United States sanctions. This decision was conveyed during the visit of Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin to New Delhi, where he met Indian officials including Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The stance reflects India's efforts to balance securing energy supplies amid global disruptions while complying with international sanctions. The sanctioned LNG tanker Kunpeng, carrying 138,200 cubic meters of LNG, remains stranded near Singapore due to refusal at India’s Dahej LNG terminal. However, India continues to import sanctioned Russian crude oil under temporary US waivers and remains open to non-sanctioned Russian LNG supplies, though much of that volume is committed to Europe.
India Revises Royalty Rates for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production in 2026
On 8 May 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India notified a revised royalty framework lowering royalty rates for crude oil and natural gas production across all categories, including onshore, offshore, deepwater, and ultra-deepwater fields. These revisions aim to incentivize domestic exploration and boost India's upstream oil and gas sector.
Rolls-Royce to Expand Defence and Civil Aviation Operations in India with Focus on Fighter Jet Engine Co-development
Rolls-Royce, a British multinational engineering firm specializing in aerospace, defence, and power systems, announced plans in early 2026 to significantly expand its presence in India's defence, civil aviation, and energy sectors. The expansion plan notably includes co-development of a next-generation combat jet engine core of the 120 kN thrust class, intended for India's indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. This initiative involves full technology transfer and intellectual property ownership for India. Additionally, Rolls-Royce aims to localise engine manufacturing supporting the Indian Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, increase workforce to approximately 10,000 employees, and expand supply chain sourcing tenfold. The company's CEO met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2026 to discuss these expansion plans in alignment with India's 'Viksit Bharat' vision.
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board Approves Restart of Tarapur Atomic Power Station Unit-2
On 7 May 2026, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) granted approval for the restart and continued operation of Unit-2 at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), located near Boisar in Maharashtra. After a major refurbishment and safety upgrade program carried out by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the unit is permitted to operate for an additional 10 years. The upgrades include replacement of reactor coolant piping with corrosion-resistant stainless steel, installation of advanced safety systems, and critical inspections ensuring reactor safety. Tarapur Units 1 and 2 are India's first boiling water reactors (BWRs), initially commissioned in 1969, and also Asia's first commercial nuclear reactors.
Saudi Scientists Develop Nescod: Electricity-Free Cooling Technology Using Ammonium Nitrate
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, have developed a novel cooling system named Nescod (No Electricity and Sustainable Cooling on Demand) that operates without electricity. It leverages the endothermic dissolution of ammonium nitrate in water to absorb heat, reducing temperatures from 25°C to 3.6°C within 20 minutes. The system utilizes solar energy to regenerate ammonium nitrate by evaporating water, enabling continuous reuse without conventional power. Nescod is affordable, energy-efficient, and particularly suitable for hot, dry regions and areas with unreliable electricity, with potential applications in cooling buildings, preserving food, and reducing dependence on traditional air conditioners.
Samudra Pradakshina: India's First All-Women Tri-Service Sailing Circumnavigation
An Indian Armed Forces initiative, the Samudra Pradakshina expedition, involves a 10-member all-women crew from the Army, Navy, and Air Force sailing the IASV Triveni—a 50-foot yacht built indigenously in Puducherry—on a historic global circumnavigation mission. Flagged off from Mumbai on September 11, 2025, the voyage covers approximately 26,000 nautical miles over nine months, including crossing the Equator twice and rounding three great capes: Cape Leeuwin (Australia), Cape Horn (South America), and Cape of Good Hope (Africa). The mission exemplifies Nari Shakti (women empowerment), tri-service unity, Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), and India's maritime diplomacy. The crew is expected to complete their expedition and return to Mumbai by May 2026 after four international port calls.
Indian Coast Guard Holds Girder Laying Ceremony for Three Air Cushion Vehicles in Goa
On 11 May 2026, the Indian Coast Guard conducted the girder-laying ceremony for the 4th, 5th, and 6th Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) at the Rassaim Yard of Chowgule Shipyard in Goa. These ACVs are part of a project involving six indigenously fabricated hovercrafts under a contract signed on 24 October 2024 with Chowgule & Company Pvt. Ltd., Goa. Based on designs from Griffon Hoverwork, UK, and built using about 50% indigenous materials, these hovercrafts are intended for high-speed coastal patrolling, reconnaissance in shallow waters, operations in marshy terrains and deep-sea tasks, as well as search and rescue missions. The project supports India's push for defense self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and enhances the Indian Coast Guard's operational capabilities.
Government of India Notifies 1% Cess on Construction Cost under Code on Social Security, 2020
The Indian Government has officially notified a 1% cess on the total construction cost incurred by employers for building and other construction works under the Code on Social Security, 2020. Applicable on all commercial buildings regardless of cost, this cess replaces the previous notification from 1996. Collections will fund welfare measures including health benefits, financial aid, insurance, and education for construction workers and their children. The cess is managed by Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards across states. The new self-assessment rule requires certified chartered engineer verification, and from November 21, 2025, individuals constructing houses costing less than ₹950 lakh are exempt from this cess.
Karnataka Launches Kartavya-KAAMS Mobile App for Teacher and Staff Attendance
The Government of Karnataka has introduced the Kartavya-KAAMS mobile application, an advanced attendance management system that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), facial recognition, and GIS technology to monitor attendance of permanent teachers, headmasters, equivalent officers, and non-teaching staff in government educational institutions. Mandatory attendance marking twice daily from duty locations will begin from the academic year 2026-27, replacing the biometric attendance system from 1 May 2026. The system integrates attendance data with the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and the Students Achievement Tracking System (SATS), covering over 20 lakh government employees and contractual workers in education.
National Conference on Laboratory Animal Welfare Organized by Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
On 11 May 2026, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, organized a National Conference in New Delhi focusing on 'Laboratory Animal Welfare: Policies and Best Practices'. Convened by the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA), the event emphasized ethical and humane treatment of laboratory animals used in research, discussing regulatory frameworks and best practices aligned with the 3Rs principles—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. Important participants included Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and other key officials. This conference reinforced India's commitment to scientific research ethics and laboratory animal welfare standards.
Launch of SEHAT Programme by ICMR and ICAR to Integrate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Public Health
On May 11, 2026, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) jointly launched the SEHAT (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation) national mission in New Delhi. The initiative aims to foster convergence between agriculture, nutrition, and public health to enhance health outcomes in India. SEHAT prioritizes biofortified crops, integrated farming systems, occupational health for agricultural workers, and One Health preparedness, addressing malnutrition and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. This reflects India's shift from curative to preventive healthcare and is backed by comprehensive scientific validation including clinical trials of biofortified crops.
Annapurna Bhandar Scheme in West Bengal Announced for Women Welfare
On 11 May 2026, the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal announced the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme to provide financial assistance of Rs 3,000 per month to eligible women via direct bank transfers. This scheme is scheduled to be launched from 1 June 2026 and replaces the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which offered Rs 1,500 per month to general category women and Rs 1,700 to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women. Annapurna Bhandar aims to empower low- and middle-income women by improving their financial stability, marking a key social welfare initiative under the BJP administration in West Bengal.